Page 77 of Keeping it Real

“You’re not joining us?”

“I already have plans.”

Van Horn crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at Alek.“Huh.Keeping your pretty houseguest all to yourself, I see.Not that I blame you.There’s something about her that is?—”

He was toe-to-toe with Van Horn in an instant.“You better think carefully about the next word that comes out of your mouth.”

The quarterback held up his hands.“Whoa.My wife was right.”He took a step back and lowered his hands as he shook his head.“For some reason, she’s determined to see you happily involved with someone.I’m sure you can imagine how that pisses me off.But from what little interaction we had last night, I liked Sheridan.My first inclination should be to warn her off.”

Alek felt his fingers tightening up into fists.

“But she suits you.”Van Horn had the audacity to look amazed.“And my gut tells me she can hold her own.I hope it works out for you two.”

London joined them before Alek could reply.

“Boys,” she murmured.“People are watching.”

Van Horn placed his palm on his wife’s back.“Good news.You can wear that hot new red dress you bought.We’re having dinner in Milwaukee’s premiere new steak house tomorrow night.”

She looked between both men.“O-kkay?”

Alek took his life in his hands when he kissed London on the cheek, his lips lingering longer than they should have.“My treat,” he told her.“Be sure to try the lemon cake.It’s to die for.”

“Do I even want to know what’s going on?”she asked.

“You tell me all the time that us Milwaukee jocks need to stick together.”Van Horn reached out his hand.“Thanks for both invites.Enjoy the rest of your weekend.”The asshole winked at Alek.

London seemed to hold her breath as Alek shook her husband’s hand.

“Thanks,” Alek told him.The truth was, he meant it.The quarterback made London happier than he ever could.And someone better had come along when he least expected it.Now all he had to do was try not to screw it up.

“We each got a puck,” Finn said when the boys arrived back.

“Good because the Ferguson bus is pulling out,” Claire announced.

“Are you sure you want three boys at your house?”London asked.

Van Horn shot her a WTF look.

Gus walked up with a sleepy Grace nestled on his shoulder.“Don’t worry.I’m going to make them clean out the garage tomorrow if they’re too loud tonight,” he teased.

Finn was all smiles as he and his friends raced to the parking garage.Alek tossed the bags of dog toys into the back of his SUV before retrieving Finn’s duffel bag for him.

“You have your inhaler?”he asked him.

“Of course,” Finn said as he took the bag.“Tell Hattie we’ll take the toys to the shelter tomorrow.”

Alek ruffled his hair.“Behave.Have fun.Mind your manners.”

He tried to remember all the things his parents used to say to him when they dropped him off at a friend’s house.Or hockey practice.Or camp.

A knot formed in his stomach.Finn was going to Gus’s house, for crying out loud.Nothing was going to happen to him there.

So why did he feel like he was going to throw up?

“Finn!”

The boy waited his turn to climb into the third row of Gus’s Infinity.Alek reached him in three strides.He pulled him into a hug, brushing his lips over the top of his head.“Love you, bud.”